30 Facts About Maggie Laubser

Maria Magdalena Laubser was a South African painter and printmaker.

Maggie Laubser is generally considered, along with Irma Stern, to be responsible for the introduction of Expressionism to South Africa.

Maggie Laubser's work was initially met with derision by critics but has gained wide acceptance, and now she is regarded as an exemplary and quintessentially South African artist.

Maria Magdalena Maggie Laubser was born on the wheat farm Bloublommetjieskloof near Malmesbury in the Swartland, a productive agricultural area in South Africa.

Maggie Laubser was the eldest of six children of Gerhardus Petrus Christiaan Laubser and Johanna Catharina Laubser.

Maggie Laubser's youth was dominated by the rural and pastoral and she delighted in this carefree existence.

Maggie Laubser returned to the farm in 1901, and during a visit to Cape Town she met Beatrice Hazel, a realistic romantic style painter, who introduced her to Edward Roworth, giving impetus to her desire to study painting.

Maggie Laubser studied painting under Roworth in Cape Town for two months of 1903, during which time she received a silver medal for her work.

Maggie Laubser met Ita Mees, a concert pianist and Frederik van Eeden, author and poet.

Maggie Laubser befriended Laura Knight and Frans Langeveld, both painters.

Maggie Laubser initially stayed in Huntingdonshire and then, in October 1914, moved to a London hotel and registered at the Slade School of Art for the period October 1914 to March 1919.

Maggie Laubser returned to South Africa briefly in 1915 to visit the new family farm at Oortmanspost, near Klipheuwel in the Cape Province and again in March 1919, after her studies were concluded.

Maggie Laubser left London on 6 June 1919 for Belgium, staying at Antwerp and the Villa Chenes in the Nachtigalen Lei in Schoten.

Maggie Laubser befriended Arnold Balwe, son of her patron, who studied at the Academy.

Maggie Laubser might have accompanied Balwe as an occasional student, as is evidenced by a number of nude studies sketched during this period.

Maggie Laubser was issued with a visa by the German Consulate in Cape Town on 16 November 1922 and was installed at Kurfurstendamm 40, Berlin by 1 January 1923.

Maggie Laubser's address had apparently changed to Kurfurstendamm 43, Berlin by 23 January 1923.

Maggie Laubser looked up Irma Stern and they undertook a trip to the Baltic Sea at Ahrenshoop for three weeks in July 1923.

Maggie Laubser met members of the diplomatic corps, painted portraits and attended music concerts.

Maggie Laubser singled out Franz Marc of Der Blaue Reiter and Nolde, Schmidt-Rottluff and Pechstein of Die Brucke as significant to her personality, although she would claim not to have been influenced by them.

Maggie Laubser's influences were beginning to shine through into her work.

In November 1924, Maggie Laubser returned to South Africa and settled at Oortmanspost, the family farm.

Maggie Laubser met sculptor Moses Kottler and the cartoonist DC Boonzaier, who introduced her to his son Gregoire, founding member of the New Group, and renewed her friendship with painters Ruth Prowse and Nita Spilhaus.

Maggie Laubser was asked to exhibit in Cape Town, and was cruelly disillusioned.

On 3 May 1936, Maggie Laubser's father died, leaving the farm to her brother, and establishing a trust fund for her mother.

Maggie Laubser would be a member of the New Group, and present at the exhibition of 1938.

Maggie Laubser was active from as early as 1900 and continued working uninterrupted until her death in 1973.

Maggie Laubser built a cottage there, called Altyd Lig, in 1947.

Maggie Laubser continued painting and continued to evolve her style, and in 1959 she was presented with an honorary membership of the Academy of Art and Science.

Maggie Laubser's works are included in a number of major collections:.